WHCA31 TAPA
TROPICAL STORM KAREN ALERT STATEMENT
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES
7 AM ECT SUN, SEP 22, 2019
THIS IS FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.
TROPICAL STORM IS ABOUT TO ENTER THE MONITORED AREA
AT 5AM ECT OR 0900Z, THE CENTRE OF TROPICAL STORM KAREN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 11.9 NORTH, LONGITUDE 60.2 WEST OR ABOUT 364 MILES SOUTH- SOUTHEAST OF THE LEEWARDS AND 536 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.
KAREN IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MILES PER HOUR. THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF KAREN WILL BE WELL WEST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS ON TUESDAY AND WEST OR NEAR THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS ON EARLY WEDNESDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
LITTLE CHANGE IN INTENSITY IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT DAY OF TWO.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND UP TO 125 MILES FROM THE CENTRE.
THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1005 MB OR 29.68 INCHES.
ON ITS PRESENT TRACK, THE SYSTEM WILL BE WEST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS IN TWO DAYS AND NEAR THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS BY EARLY WEDNESDAY. ALTHOUGH KAREN IS FORECAST TO PASS WELL WEST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS ON TUESDAY, ANY SHIFT TO THE EAST COULD BRING THE REEGION UNDER GREATER THREAT.
MEANWHILE, IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS TO THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. THEREFORE, RESIDENTS OF THE LEEWARDS AND THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS SHOULD REVIEW THEIR HURRICANE PREPARENESS PLANS AND BE PREPARED TO ACT.
ALL RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO MONITOR THE MOVEMENT KAREN CLOSELY, AS IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE ISLANDS.
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE AT 11 AM ECT.
LORNE SALMON
